Grid-edge R&D for buildings fosters development of innovative tools, technologies, and strategies to ensure that the grid is flexible, resilient, and sized correctly to accommodate increasing loads. Energy-efficiency measures like envelope upgrades can reduce overall demand. Innovative building technologies such as advanced controls, smart panels, heat pumps, and energy storage can increase grid resiliency, but also add complexity and new challenges to our nation’s energy system.
BTO investments in research, development, and field demonstrations strengthen the integration of these resources, improve our understanding of new and more dynamic grid loads, optimize building technology integration with the electric grid, support grid planning and operation, and modernize the grid edge.
- See how Connected Communities demonstrations highlight best practices and lessons learned.
- Find out how buildings R&D supports DOE’s cross-office vision for supercharging the grid edge for an integrated energy system.
- Learn more about DOE’s strategy for grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB), which laid the foundation for current grid-edge R&D activities.